Used 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A) Consumer Reviews
Used SL-Class for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
No more ABC headaches!
Elmar Jaust, Brownwood, TX, 05/24/2020
updated 11/27/2024
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Well, after about 11 years of ownership of a now 21-year old beautiful car, we decided we had had enough of the ABC headaches and did the research that we should have done 11 years earlier. We found that the troublesome ABC suspension can be converted to a mechanical “coilover” one. At a significant cost, of course. Needless to say, M-B dealerships would not do it, and there aren’t many independent service stations that would do it. But fortunately we found one. It took a few days and about $7,500, but the headaches are gone, and that’s priceless. The suspension feels a little harder on rough roads, but considering that the car is now nearing the age where it can be considered “antique”, it’s acceptable. Otherwise the car keeps running great and generates a much-better-than-advertised gas mileage of 20-21 Mpg in mixed hwy/city driving with a light foot and occasional sprints. In its Magma Red color it continues to be a beauty to look at as well. Hopefully, it’ll stick around much longer…
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
foul smell in mercedes
jjzachs, 07/24/2003
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
my car has been in shop for over 120 daysin one year.now there foul smell from a defect in the door design in the designo version. it supposidly leaked glue and caused a foul smell.we heard of other cars with same problem.mercedes has to date not told the exact nature of the problem or the chemical that leaked.my car still stinks
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for sale near you
3 of 4 listings
- SL500 ConvertibleMSRP: $3,40018 mi away
- SL55 AMG ConvertibleMSRP: $18,4922 mi away
- SL500 ConvertibleMSRP: $18,9979 mi away
See all 4 listings
Near Flawless Vehicle Even 14 Years Old!
Jason Coon, Minneapolis, MN, 05/08/2017
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Not sure about all the negative comments. I bought this car for my wife as she has always wanted a convertible and geez you just can't go wrong with MB. I bought it over a year ago. It was a 2003 with 29,000 miles on it! I bought it in 2016. The car has never been in accidents and appears to have regular maintenance from records. We have put 8000 miles on it since owning it and almost all the original components are on it and have not failed with one exception (see further below). We do not drive it in the Minnesota winter. The car has been near flawless, fun, reliable, extremely comfortable, and surprisingly a good handling car. It's the whole deal. While it does not have the power my RS6 does, nor equal the cornering and braking of my Porsche or RS6....the comfort and styling just can't be matched. I would rather drive this car than the others. I was so impressed with this car I bought an AMG MB days after. The only thing that does not work is the lumbar control in the driver's seat. We are still on the original brake pads and only have had to do one oil change.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Beautiful but unreliable
CPRCPR, 05/11/2004
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought my SL500 in Jul-03. But ownership is blighted by consistent unreliability and visits to Mercedes service. SL parts are often not available, so your car sits, un- drivable, in the repair shop waiting for parts. In 10 mths I spent a month in loan cars, whilst waiting for parts & repairs. Mercedes paid for everything, but that does not take away the irritation. This weeks fault is the seat-belt (unsafe to drive, 10 day for parts); previous failures were hydraulics (undrivable), exhaust (illegal to drive) and electric seat adjustment stuck in fully forward (couldnt enter seat). So buy an SL500 as a third car, but not if you want something reliable.
best car even after 16 years
Josef Baikal, Flushing, NY, 09/01/2019
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I had this car for 16 years with very few issues. Still drives like new. OK technology not up to date but engine transmission still amazing. Handling better than new ones. For the price on todays market its an amazing deal.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value